{"id":150981,"date":"2024-11-21T13:32:17","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T13:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ruthcrilly.co.uk\/?p=48137"},"modified":"2024-11-21T13:32:17","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T13:32:17","slug":"my-ultimate-easy-christmas-gift-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/21\/my-ultimate-easy-christmas-gift-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"My Ultimate Easy Christmas Gift: 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s time. For the sixth year running I bring you my ultimate, easy, budget-adaptable Christmas gift. The one that feels thoughtful and personal yet takes seconds to buy and is easy to wrap and cheap to post. Yes, dear readers, it\u2019s the most popular post of the season: my\u00a0Christmas Books \u2018n Chocolates<\/em>!<\/p>\n

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Do you want to look like the most stylish and considered gift-giver, one that really has their life together, yet expend virtually no energy? Then this is the post for you. A carefully curated selection of the finest books, matched artistically and with great flair to the daintiest, prettiest bars of chocolate. Or the most cool and graphic slabs. All wrapped up in plain brown paper, tied with striped string, the final package never fails to delight.<\/p>\n

The point of this book-and-choc pairing is that the recipient feels as though they\u2019re being given something a little bit luxurious. So we\u2019re talking high end books and top quality chocolates but that\u2019s not all: both the book cover and the chocolate wrapping must be aesthetically pleasing and also matched together in a way that makes people think, \u201cwow, this person has style<\/em>\u201d. Those people are not to know that you ordered everything on the internet, wearing fleece polar bear pyjamas and a flammable dressing gown.<\/p>\n

Before I present you with this year\u2019s spectacular book-and-choc pairings, I should say that there\u2019s an entire back catalogue of these annual posts. And so if you\u2019d like to look at dozens and dozens more examples then click the links at the bottom of this page.<\/p>\n

Right, without further ado: the Ultimate 2024 Books and Chocolates Round-Up!<\/p>\n

[AD-info: this post contains affiliate links, marked *.]<\/em><\/p>\n

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All Fours<\/em> + Charbonnel Truffles<\/h3>\n

Buy\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>All Fours\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/em>here<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

Buy Charbonnel & Walker Sea Salt Truffles<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

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I\u2019m going to talk more about\u00a0All Fours\u00a0<\/em>by Miranda July next week. The story is totally mad. I get the feeling it could be one of those Marmite sort of books, because it is so far-fetched and unhinged, but if you submit (ooh err) and allow yourself to have a good sense of humour about it all then it\u2019s an absolute riot. I found myself laughing just out of pure glee at how batshit crazy it was, in places. And, on a more serious note, it tackles some big midlife issues head-on and completely unapologetically. Not one to give to Auntie Maud while she\u2019s having her hip replacement, perhaps, or anyone you don\u2019t know reasonably well, because it\u2019s pretty\u2026intimate\u2026in places, but this could be one of the best reads to gift a girlfriend that you\u2019ll find this year. Or the worst. Whatever, it\u2019ll be a conversation starter\u2026<\/p>\n

Blue Sisters<\/em> + Sea Salt Chocolate<\/h3>\n

Buy\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>Blue Sisters<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0by Coco Mellors<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

Buy Ocelot Sea Salt Chocolate<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Four sisters\u2019 stories, one book. But there\u2019s a sad absence throughout that binds the separate tales together. Poignant and touching but not\u00a0too<\/em>\u00a0hair-clawingly miserable, it\u2019s a good winter holiday read. Especially if you\u2019re breaking into a bar of the old Ocelot Sea Salt at the same time. Be still my chocolate-loving heart.<\/p>\n

(Ocelot\u2019s very graphic packaging is perfect for my books and chocs pairings. You almost can\u2019t go wrong, they look good with everything!)<\/p>\n

Long Island<\/em> + Sea Salt Chocolate<\/h3>\n

Buy\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>Long Island<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0by Colm Toibin<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

Buy Ocelot Sea Salt Chocolate<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I wrote about Colm Toibin\u2019s\u00a0Long Island\u00a0<\/em>here<\/a>, but to save you having to open a new window, in short I called it \u201cdelicious\u201d and said this about it:<\/p>\n

\u201cI admire anyone who can take lives that are just like anyone else\u2019s lives – seemingly pedestrian, with nothing that shocking or surprising going on – and make the lack of anything particularly notable into the thing that is interesting. Not just interesting: precious. Every little life and every part of that life made so precious, so worth dissecting and giving thought to\u2026 it really makes you stop and appreciate how densely-packed each of us is with all of our memories and emotions and links to other people.\u201d<\/p>\n

What a gorgeously slow-paced, delectable little treasure-chest of a book. Hard recommend.<\/p>\n

James<\/em> + Waitrose No1<\/h3>\n

Buy\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>James<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0by Percival Everett<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

Buy Waitrose No1 Chocolate<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Oooph. I hate the phrase \u201chard recommend\u201d but I\u2019m trying to be more down with the kids and so I\u2019ll use it again: Percival Everett\u2019s\u00a0James\u00a0<\/em>is completely outstanding. If you read\u00a0The Trees\u00a0<\/em>and were blown away by that then adopt the brace position because you\u2019re about to start another masterpiece that you won\u2019t be able to put down.<\/p>\n

Never have I wanted a character to survive so badly – and not just survive, I was willing Jim (an escaped slave who is set on buying his wife and child\u2019s freedom) to rewrite history. Powerful, beyond sad and with the capacity to make you feel desperate, nauseating levels of rage.<\/p>\n

By the way, you may notice (if you\u2019ve seen previous books-n-chocs posts) that I\u2019ve slipped a new chocolate bar in here. I wanted to find a simple, graphic bar that didn\u2019t cost an absolute fortune and by God I\u2019ve done it. Waitrose No1 range – loads of different versions. Approx two quid, depending on when you stock up\u2026<\/p>\n

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Buy Tony\u2019s Chocolonely<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

My other bargainous brand of choice, as you know, is Tony\u2019s Chocolonely. I love the big, bold graphics on these chunky slabs of choc. Loads of colours, great value, I can\u2019t imagine a time when they won\u2019t be included.<\/p>\n

Intermezzo<\/em> + Violet Milk<\/h2>\n

Buy\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>Intermezzo<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

Buy Ocelot Violet Milk here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Intermezzo, another fine read for a slow-burn, wintery kind of week. My first Sally Rooney book and I will most definitely be going back for more – I love these detailed examinations of people\u2019s character and inner turbulence.<\/p>\n

Rabbits<\/em> + Peanut Caramel<\/h3>\n

Buy\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>Rabbits<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0by Hugo Rifkind<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

Buy Pana Organic Peanut Caramel<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Teen angst and dark goings-on,\u00a0Rabbits\u00a0<\/em>by Hugo Rifkind makes you want to hire a battered mini and relive your youth. Sort of.<\/p>\n

Brotherless Night<\/em> + Black Cherry<\/h3>\n

Buy\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>Brotherless Night<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

The only book in the book pile that I\u2019ve started but won\u2019t finish before this post goes live. Shame on me! I was doing so well.\u00a0Brotherless Night\u00a0<\/em>by V.V. Ganeshananthan won this year\u2019s Women\u2019s Prize for Fiction which is how it caught my eye, it\u2019s beautifully written so far and with brilliant attention to historical detail. I have a feeling I\u2019m in for a very emotional ride\u2026<\/p>\n

I Who Have Never Known Men<\/em> + Charbonnel Truffles<\/h3>\n

Buy\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>I Who Have Never Known Men<\/a><\/strong>*<\/em><\/p>\n

Buy Charbonnel Truffles<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

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What a book!\u00a0I Who Have Never Known Men\u00a0<\/em>by Jacqueline Harpman isn\u2019t a new release but has had something of a resurgence this year and I\u2019m so pleased that it has. It\u2019s excellent. Utterly mysterious but also bleak and barren. I don\u2019t want to say too much about it, but it\u2019s a fantastic pick. Proper conversation starter!<\/p>\n

Tacos<\/em> + Cherry Bomb<\/h3>\n

Buy\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>Tacos<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

Buy Cherry Bomb chocolate<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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It doesn\u2019t have to always be about fiction when it comes to the Books \u2018n Chocs gift. I do rather like sending out cookbooks, too, especially if I can pair them with a relevant spice or condiment or accessory. Quite partial – and stay with me here – to pairing a cookbook with a nice tea towel. It packs flat, still, is lightweight and just feels appropriate and fun. I like M&S cotton ones which come in a pack of four (\u00a38\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong>*) and add a grand total of two pounds to the gift price if you split the pack down.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t resist adding in this Cherry Bomb chocolate bar, though – I recently discovered the online shop\u00a0Delli\u00a0<\/em>for niche and interesting storecupboard buys and condiments and so on. Went to town a bit on the old confectionery..<\/p>\n

How Not to be a Supermodel<\/em> + Fatso Sweet Tart<\/h3>\n

Buy\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>How Not to be a Supermodel<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0here<\/a>*<\/strong><\/p>\n

Buy Fatso Sweet Tart chocolate here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Indulge me, momentarily, if you will. Because I have waited many, many years to enjoy this moment: my very own book featured in my very own \u201cbooks n chocs\u201d post. What an absolute thrill! I ask you for your attention only briefly, because I am coming back at you with a whole post about\u00a0How Not to be a Supermodel\u00a0<\/em>next week, when the hardback becomes widely available in the States, which is a HUGE thing to be happening.<\/p>\n

I also have some alternative chocolate pairings and a load to say about how much you\u2019ll enjoy reading this book if you haven\u2019t done so already. It would be my \u201cpick of the year\u201d if that was allowable, which obviously it isn\u2019t because I\u2019d look like a right old berk if I chose my own book, but you get the gist. I love it and I think that you will love it. It has been making people laugh out loud at very inappropriate times and that is the best possible review I could wish for.<\/p>\n

If you have read the book then you\u2019ll appreciate the choice of chocolate brand\u2026<\/p>\n

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I hope you\u2019ve enjoyed this year\u2019s offering – remember to check out the link below for previous editions and loads more ideas!<\/p>\n

My Ultimate Easy Christmas Gift: 2019-2023 Editions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The post My Ultimate Easy Christmas Gift: 2024<\/a> appeared first on Ruth Crilly<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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It\u2019s time. For the sixth year running I bring you my ultimate, easy, budget-adaptable Christmas gift. The one that feels thoughtful and personal yet takes seconds to buy and is easy to wrap and cheap to post. Yes, dear readers, it\u2019s the most popular post of the season: my\u00a0Christmas Books \u2018n Chocolates! Do you want [\u2026]<\/p>\n

The post My Ultimate Easy Christmas Gift: 2024<\/a> appeared first on Ruth Crilly<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":425,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","footnotes":""},"categories":[4400],"tags":[61,4425,122,127,129,124,128,125,132,131,133,126,130,123,66,94,88,97,56,64,65,60,4423,112,4406,4420,4407,4409,4412,4408,4418,35883,35884,35885,40,75,95,35886,104,4236,33,120,4419,4422,4410,105,101,98,115,30,29,41,86,70,69,68,72,71,26,118,108,4427,4403,87,46,55,48,52,54,51,50,83,4413,62,58,57,4417,109,35,59,63,4421,4416,4411,4415,4428,85,79,82,96,80,4431,27,81,114,44,42,43,45,38,39,4429,4424,4426,110,117,100,111,116,73,89,90,92,91,93,84,78,37,102,34,36,77,4404,67,74,4430,99,113,119,28,121,4414,4405,32,47,49,53,103,31,76],"class_list":["post-150981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beauty","tag-airpods","tag-all-beauty","tag-anime","tag-anime-characters","tag-anime-cosplay","tag-anime-edits","tag-anime-merchandise","tag-anime-movies","tag-anime-news","tag-anime-recommendations","tag-anime-reviews","tag-anime-series","tag-anime-streaming","tag-animes","tag-app-store","tag-app-store-samsung","tag-appgallery","tag-appgallery-oneplus","tag-apple","tag-apple-music","tag-apple-tv","tag-apple-watch","tag-barbie-makeup","tag-bbc-sport","tag-beauty","tag-beauty-plus","tag-beauty-salon","tag-beauty-sleep","tag-beauty-supply","tag-beauty-tips","tag-beautyblender","tag-best-books-2024","tag-best-books-uk","tag-best-fiction-uk","tag-best-mobile-games","tag-bixby","tag-bixby-xiaomi","tag-books-2024-uk","tag-champions-league","tag-cosmetics","tag-cyberpunk","tag-cyberpunk-2077","tag-euphoria-makeup","tag-eyebrow-shaping","tag-eyelashes-extensions","tag-fantasy-football","tag-fifa","tag-football","tag-formula-1","tag-fortnite","tag-free-fire","tag-free-mobile-games","tag-freebuds-pro","tag-galaxy-a52","tag-galaxy-note-20","tag-galaxy-s21","tag-galaxy-watch-4","tag-galaxy-z-fold-3","tag-game","tag-games","tag-golf","tag-hair-stores","tag-hair-styling","tag-harmonyos","tag-how-to-backup-iphone","tag-how-to-factory-reset-iphone","tag-how-to-reset-iphone","tag-how-to-restore-iphone","tag-how-to-unlock-iphone","tag-how-to-unlock-iphone-5","tag-how-to-unlock-iphone-6","tag-huawei","tag-hudabeauty","tag-ios","tag-ipad","tag-iphone","tag-korean-makeup","tag-live-soccer","tag-lol","tag-macbook","tag-macos","tag-makeup-bags","tag-makeup-box","tag-makeup-kits","tag-makeup-sets","tag-manicure-pedicure","tag-mate-40-pro","tag-mi-11-lite","tag-mi-home-security-camera-basic-1080p","tag-mi-home-security-camera-basic-1080p-huawei","tag-mi-smart-band-6","tag-michelle-phan","tag-minecraft","tag-miui","tag-mlb-scores","tag-mobile-game-design","tag-mobile-game-development","tag-mobile-game-marketing","tag-mobile-game-monetization","tag-mobile-games","tag-mobile-gaming","tag-nail-color","tag-natural-beauty","tag-natural-makeup","tag-nba-scores","tag-nba-standings","tag-nfl","tag-nfl-scores","tag-nhl-scores","tag-one-ui","tag-oneplus","tag-oneplus-9-pro","tag-oneplus-buds-pro","tag-oneplus-nord-ce-5g","tag-oxygenos","tag-p40-pro-plus","tag-poco-x3-pro","tag-pokemon","tag-premier-league","tag-pubg","tag-pubg-mobile","tag-redmi-note-10-pro","tag-sallys-beauty","tag-samsung","tag-samsung-pay","tag-seint-makeup","tag-soccer","tag-sports","tag-steam","tag-steeam","tag-top-10-anime","tag-ulta-coupon","tag-ultabeauty","tag-valorant","tag-when-do-the-iphone-7-come-out","tag-when-does-the-iphone-7-come-out","tag-when-is-the-iphone-7-coming-out","tag-world-cup","tag-xbox-series-x","tag-xiaomi"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/425"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150981"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":155685,"href":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150981\/revisions\/155685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent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